Gate construction



June 26, 1962 H. ROTHVOSS 3,040,457

GATE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F Qa IN VEN TOI.A zmey film/pas June 26, 1962 H. ROTHVOSS GATE CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1960 United States 3,040,457 GATECONSTRUCTION Henry Rothvoss, Ancrarndale, N.Y. Filed Sept. 29, 1961?,Ser. No. 59,422 2 Claims. (Cl. 39-43) An additional object of theinvention is the provision of a gate of this character which is springbiased by means of an over-center arrangement to both its upper andlower positions, in such manner that when the gate is past center, itwill efiectively remain in the position in which it is set.

Anzadditional object of the invention is the provision of such a gateprovided with slats, which extend transversely of the gate when the gateis in closed posit on, and which are alternately mounted on offsetpivots, so that when the gate is raised the slots will collapse towardsone another to reduce the gate width to a minimum when in verticalposition. I

An additional object of the invention is the provisoin of such a gatewhich may be readily transported from place to place, and which may beopened and closed with a minimum of effort and diificulty.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangementsof parts, and features of construction.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a gateconstruction of this character which is sturdy and durable inconstruction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simpleand inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out .as thedescription of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of gate constructionembodying elements of the instant inventive concept shown in partiallyraised position, the closed atent 3,940,457 Patented June 26, 19 52 iceThe gate construction comprises a top bar 18, which is pivoted as bymeans of a pivot 19 to the upper portion of the post 11, and at itsother end by means of a pivot 20 to the movable end post 17. A secondslat 21 is pivoted as by means of a pivot 22 to the post 11, and

the pivot 23 to the post 17, it being noted that the pivot 29 is offsetrelative to the pivot 23, as is the pivot 19 relative to the pivot 22. Athird slat 24 is similarly pivoted as at 25 and 26 to the posts 11 and17, respectively, while a fourth slat 27 is pivotally connected as at 28and 29 to'the posts 11 and 17. It is to be noted that the pivot 25 is inalignment with the pin 19 and the pivot 28 is in alignment with thepivot 22, thus providing an oifset staggered relation in the pivotpoints. This combined with a similar offset relation due to the factthat pivot 26 is aligned with pivot 2d and pivot 23 is aligned withpivot 29, provides a staggeredrelationship which permits the gate whentilted upwardly to vertical position to enable the slats 18, 21, 24, 27to engage each other relatively closely, so as to provide a minimumimpedance when the gate is in closed position.

A central post 39 is pivoted to each of the slats 18,

21, 24, and 27 by means of pivots 31, 32, 33, and 34,

position, and the full opened position of the gate being 1 indicated indotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the construction ofFIG. 1, partially broken away, showing the gate in closed position.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the construction of FIG. 2, partsthereof being omitted.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the gate in closed position takensubstantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2, parts thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 66 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing themounting and the spring construction as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, the gate construction of the instant invention isgenerally indicated at 10,

and comprises a vertical post 11, which is preferably mounted on atransverse axle 12, at the ends of which are suitably mounted rubbertired Wheels 13, any suitable bearing means being provided forfacilitating the respectively. The pivots 31 and 33 are aligned instaggered relation to the aligned pivots 32 .and 34, it being poitnedout-that all of the pivots of single cross bar are offset relatively toall the pivots of its adjacent bar.

The arrangement is thus such that when the gate is swung upwardly, asindicated in FIG. 1, the post 30 in its central position remainsrelatively vertical, and as the gate continues to move, extends insubstantial parallelism to the post 11, and the post 17 at the top ofthe gate structure, this being efi'ccted by the offset relationship ofthe various pivots as previously described.

It is to be noted that all of the members 18, 21, 24, and 27 arepreferably constructed of channel iron, as best shown in FIG. 6. Thepivots, of which the pivot 21, is illustrative, take the form of boltshaving tapered heads, which fit in suitable counter sunk openings 35 inthe respective members 11, 17, and 30.

Each bolt 35 passes through a suitable flanged bushing 36 formed ofNylatron or similar material which is seated in an opening in itsassociated channel iron member. An interiorly positioned concentricaluminum sleeve 36:: extends beyond the end of bushing 36 and issurrounded by a fiber washer 36b and an aluminum washer 360. A steel nut37 engages the washer 36c and clamps the assembly, but without binding.

The members 18 and 19, it is to be noted, are mounted on one side of theposts 11, 17, and 30, while the members 24 and 27 are mounted on theopposite side, thus permitting a still further compacting of the devicewhen in raised position.

Pivot 19 connecting the uppermost transversebar 18 to the main post 11may be considered the main pivot point,.and, as best shown in FIG. 5, isconsiderably elongated to extend through the channel-shaped member 18,and an oppositely disposed channel-shaped member 41), which members areheld apart by a spaced wooden block 41 which is provided .with a bore 42within which is positioned a bearing 43, through which the elongatedpivot bolt extends. An offset portion 44 of the base of channel member18 accommodates a washer 45, while a bearing plate 46 is positioned overthe other-end of points.

The end 50 of channel member 18 extends a substantial distance beyondthe far edge of the post 11, as best shown in FIG. 2, and has mountedthereon a sector plate 51, which includes an arcuate top channel member52, a vertical member 53, and a horizontal member 54 which is secured inany desired manner, as by welding, to the top of channel member 18adjacent its end. A transverse reinforcing bar 55 extends across thesector member 51 for reinforcement purposes. A link chain 56 has one endfixedly secured as at 57 to a pin 58 which extends beneath the upper endof the arcuate portion 52 seating in a slot 59 in channel-shaped portion52. The other end of the chain 56 is secured to a pin 69, which extendstransversely across the clamping bracket 61, which is provided on itsopposite ends with projection 62, to which are anchored the eyes 63 of aspring securing member 64. The member 64-as best shown in FIG. 7includes threaded body portions 65, which threadedly engage theuppermost coils of springs 66, there being two springs 66 provided ofsubstantially equal strength. The lower portions of springs 66 engagethreaded bosses 67, which form portions of plugs 68, which are providedwith central threaded bores 69 in which are positioned bolts 7%. Thebolts 70 extend through suitable openings in a bracket plate 71, whichis suitably secured as at 72 to the lower extremity of the post 11.

It is to be noted that the upright portion 53 of the sector shapedmember 51 is substantially aligned with the main pivot 19. Thearrangement is thus such that when the gate is in the closed position,as shown in FIG. 2, the weight of the gate is sufficient to maintain thesame in this position, although if desired suitable latch means, notshown, may be positioned for interengagement on the posts 16 and 17.

As the gate is raised from the dotted line lower position of FIG. 1 tothe full line position, the centered relation of vertical upright 53 andpivot 19 is upset, and the upper end of the member 53 of the sectorshaped member 51 is tilted toward the outer side of the post 11. At thispoint the springs 66 become effective to add their pull to moving thegate to its full upright position as shown in the vertical dotted linesin FIG. 1.

Conversely, as the gate is pulled down and moved toward its loweredposition and the upright 53 approaches its centered position, thepressure exerted by the springs 4 is lessened, as the direct line oftension exerted thereby is disturbed, until when in the lower positionwith the upright 53 centered directly over the pivot 59, the gate willremain in lower position by itself.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided awheel vertically movable gate, which accomplishes all the objects ofthis invention, and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a vertical lift gate, the combination of a main supporting post, atransverse top bar pivoted to said gate, an end post, a pivotalconnection between said top bar and said end post, intermediate barspivotally connected at their opposite ends to said main post and saidend post, and a bottom bar pivoted at its ends to said main and endposts, the pivots of adjacent bars on each post being offset relative toeach other, said top bar having an end extending beyond said main post,and spring means secured to said extending end biasing said gate towardraised position, said spring means including a sector shaped membermounted on the top of said bar, said sector-shaped member including avertical arm and a horizontal arm, said vertical arm being secured insubstantial alignment with said pivotal connection of said top bar tosaid main post, said sector shaped member having .an arcuate section, achain extending over said arcuate section, said chain terminating at theend of said extending end of said top bar, and said spring meanscomprising a pair of coiled springs connected between the base of saidpost and said chain.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said main post isprovided with a transverse axle, and wheels are mounted on the ends ofsaid axles, said end post being unsecured except to the ends of saidtransverse bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSSchloer June 24, 1958

